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Sunday, February 05, 2012

The Sunday Salon - A Mixed Bag Week

Happy Sunday morning, everyone! I have a breakfast casserole in the oven, a cup of coffee beside me, and a book open on the bed. I stayed up entirely too late finishing Ann Patchett's State of Wonder for my 2012 Tournament of Books personal reading challenge. I did have the luxury of sleeping until almost 9:00 this morning, and I almost never do that. I'm rested and ready for the day. I'll take some more time to read books and blog posts after I post assignments for my online classes. Fun fun fun. While today is slated to be relaxing, the earlier part of the week was not so great.

This past week was the most stressful I've had in a while. I mentioned in a blog post a while back that my job will eventually be going away. With that in mind, we had some very important visitors on campus one day this week, and while I do not have blood pressure problems in the least, their visit alone made my head feel like it was going to explode. Long story. Not a story for the blog, but it was suitably heavy to make me glad to see the end of the week.

My job is still secure for now--every day is business as usual--but it was still enough to take a toll on my writing and reading habits this week. The good news is that I've been poking around online, and there are some interesting prospects posted here and there. Not a ton of jobs, but a few that excite me. I would like to get into a more significant position in the online education sector. If I could work from home I would soil myself with glee. Seriously. Cross your fingers.

The weekend has been much better. In fact, yesterday was super bookish. I met up with my former graduate school colleague and good buddy, TheOtherFeminist, for Chinese food and book talk. I pulled up at the restaurant a touch early and got a table for some reading. Fem came in a few minutes late. All told, we got the party started around noon and the next thing we knew we'd talked until 4:00!!! Any time we get together we have scads to discuss, and much of it is related to teaching and reading and literary theory and all that awesome stuff.

We started brainstorming a new anthology of short stories we're affectionately calling The Kickass, Bookgasmic Anthology of Undersung Short Stories. You'd buy it, right?! The whole idea is that most of the anthologies for teaching literature (and simply reading!) have the same old stuff in them. We started a list of lesser-known stories we think would blow professors' and students' skirts up. We also have a penchant for the twisted, FYI. *wink*

We also talked about what we've been reading lately and what's on the docket for later. And of course, there were recommendations, and iPhone e-mailing of recommendations. You know how it goes when book nuts gather. It's rare that I get to indulge in heavy book talk with a face-to-face buddy. We have plans to get together at a Real Bookstore soon and do it all again!

While the week started out rocky, it certainly ended strong. This coming week should be much more even keel (knock on wood). I hope your weekend is wrapping up right and you'll be off to a good start tomorrow.

My fingers are crossed, Andi! I would definitely buy your anthology. What stories would you guys include? I love Margo Lanagan's "Singing My Sister Down", "Fare Thee Well" by Cathy Clamp, and "Brownies" by J. California Cooper. I wish I lived closer. I would love to hang out with you sometime.:-) Enjoy your day.

theotherfeminist here-- I knew it! I knew it! I knew that an anthologist such as we discussed would glean excitement. When I got home yesterday evening, I went through my library and started pulling books with short stories off the shelf and went through them. I became very excited because there are so many good unsung stories, and many of them are from well established authors. I think it is a must to include stories from long ago and different cultures. A few examples that I revisited last night are Stories from Eva Luna by Isabel Allende, Nora Zeale Hurston, Antov Checkov, Nabokov, Narayan, Marquez, I was even thinking about ancient saga or two since I think some of them sound just as twisted as contemporary lit. Eudora Welty, and of course Flannery O'Conner. I even think a fairy tale would be in order. I am thinking on this.

Oh, yes, I would definitely buy that anthology. I'm reading Rose: My Life in Service by Rosina Harrison. I am definitely dragging my feet when it comes to finishing The Phantom of the Opera (so I won't catch up with you on Vanity Fair -- also, not sure about East of Eden, unless I can get it cheaply for iPad because I don't want to carry a chunkster on the plane).

I always love it when I get to meet up with bookish friends, but I tend to have to leave the state to do that. I got to meet Nashville Tammy (Under a Blood Red Sky -- you know her from old listservs) at Christmas!!! Always, always fun to meet up with like-minded souls.

Fingers crossed for you, Andi! I hope you find something great. The anthology sounds fun :) Today I'm swamped with school reading...but hoping to make a little time for Wizard of the Crow, by Ngugi wa Thiong'o.

Natasha, we started a running list of stories: some lesser known Flannery O'Connor stuff, I suggested some contemporary choices, and some I read in Tin House eons ago. Of course, titles largely slip my mind. I will be checking out the ones you mentioned!

LOL, thanks, Aarti!

Thanks, Sam! It is quite stressful in spurts. Thankfully, not all the time. This past week was just weird. Here's hoping this week is far less stressful.

Thanks, Lisa! I can understand that!

Amen to everything you said, Robin! I didn't know if you were still not putting your name online, so OtherFeminist it was! :) Many of my collections are in storage, but I will be getting my hands on 'em!

Nancy, I'm totally envious that you're reading Rose! I've had my eye on that book and can't wait to read your thoughts on it. :) With Heather and I starting Vanity Fair (ack, the size!), we'll see if I'm in any fit condition to read East of Eden in March. If not, maybe we can bump it back to late spring/early summer? I'm opposed to carrying chunksters anywhere, so I feel ya. I would definitely download a copy.

Amen, LBC! I like all of those authors.

Thanks, Emily! Me too!

Thanks for the invite, Deb!!! And yes, the state of education is puzzling and troubling. I try not to say it too often, but HELL IN A HANDBASKET. There, I feel better.